Six changes sounds a bit like the French wielding the guillotine in time-honoured fashion, or at any rate like Philippe Saint-Andre doing his Mr Tinkerman thing. But in truth it’s nowhere near as radical as that.
Of the six, one is positional and linked to a personnel change that has been forced upon new coach Guy Novés by the injury to their primary ball carrier Louis Picamoles. Another is due to outside centre Gael Fickou being away from camp all week due to difficult family circumstances,
The right winger Teddy Thomas, is the only one of the five changes in personnel who was not in the match-day squad for last week’s fortuitous comeback win over Italy in the Stade de France. He surprisingly replaces Hugo Bonneval, one of last week’s try scorers, who drops to the bench.
The 21-year-old Toulouse flanker Yacouba Camara is promoted from the bench in place of Picamoles for the his first start a week after making his debut off the bench, with Damien Chouly switching to number eight. Loann Goujon is added to the bench.
Maxime Mermoz comes in for Fickou, giving their callow backline an injection of experience as well as footwork. Three of their backs win their second caps after debuts last week, centre Jonathan Danty, Sevens specialist Virimi Vakatawa and Toulouse scrumhalf Sébastien Bézy.
Noves has rotated his props, with Jefferson Poirot and Uini Atonio exchanging places with Eddy Ben Arous and Rabah Slimani. It will be the 23-year-old Poirot’s first start, and a second for tight-head Atonio, while Alexandre Flanquart and Paul Jedrasiak rotate in the second row.
“In modern rugby, there is no starter or replacements,” said Noves. “It’s more of a relay. It’s not a sanction. Of course the players are evaluated but we also want to see players in the squad play.”
Only Chouly, skipper Guilhem Guirado and Flanqart survive from the World Cup pool meeting. The average age of the starting team is 25.9 years; the average on the bench is 24.9.
FRANCE: Maxime Medard; Teddy Thomas, Maxime Mermoz, Jonathan Danty, Virimi Vakatawa; Jules Plisson, Sebastien Bezy; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Uini Atonio; Alexandre Flanquart, Yoann Maestri; Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara, Damien Chouly.
Replacements: Camille Chat, Rabah Slimani, Eddy Ben Arous, Paul Jedrasiak, Loann Goujon, Maxime Machenaud, Jean-Marc Doussain, Hugo Bonneval.
